Chute for merchandise.



PATENTED AUG. 29, 1905.

0. F. UORMAGK.

GHUTE FOR MERCHANDISE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- PATENTED AUG. 29, 1905.

G. F. OORMAGK.

OHUTE FOR MERCHANDISE.

APPLICATION FILED 141111.30, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHE}; 2.

- jpde/ 7or UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. CORMACK, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THEHASLETT WAREHOUSE 00., OF CARSON CITY, NEVADA, A CORPO- RATION orNEVADA.

CHUTE FOR MERCHANDISE.

To all whom it; may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. CoRM oK, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, county of San Francisco, and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chutesfor Merchandise; and I hereby declare the following to bea full, clear,and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in warehouse-chutes formerchandise, whereby goods are transferred downward by gravity fromfloor to floor or throughout a series of floors in a warehouse or otherplace of storing and moving packages.

My improvement consists in a trough-like chute disposed in helical format a slope greater than the angle of friction and in interceptingdevices that divert packages from the chute at a particular floor or ateach floor and at the same time close and protect the hatchways throughwhich the helical chute passes.

The object of my invention is to facilitate, cheapen, and save space inthe operation of lowering merchandise in buildings from floor to flooror through several floors, and especially to the lower or street floor,from which packages are commonly removed, and to accomplish this withoutshock or injury to packages and at each floor by simply closing ahatchdoor. To these ends I construct devices as shown in the drawingsherewith.

Figure I is aview in perspective of a portion' of the interior of awarehouse with one of my improved helical chutes therein; Fig. II, asimilar view at a right angle to Fig. I, showing the interceptingdevices and hatch through the floor; and Fig. III, an edge view of thehatch-door, showing a form of the deflecting or arresting devices formerchandise.

In lowering and discharging merchandise from warehouses by chutes it isfound that a helical form has certain advantages, one being a saving offloor-space with a nearly direct course vertically and securingretardation or regulation of the rate of descent by centrifugal force,which causes the packages to bear against the outer wall of the chute.Impediments to this manner of operating have been in the want ofconvenient means to arrest and divert packages at each floor and to keepthe hatchways closed when not in use, as is required by law. Theseimpediments are re- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 30, 1905. Serial No. 252,873.

Patented Aug. 29, 1905.

moved by combining a deflecting or diverting chute and a hatch-door andpivoting these at the side of the hatch, as shown in the drawings now tobe referred to.

1 and 2 are floors of awarehouse connected by the helical chuteextending between and through these floors and other floors in the samemanner down to a last or landing floor or stage, as will be understood.The helical chute is shown with vertical sides 4 and 5 and a curvedbottom 7, thelatter causing packages, as at 8, to remain central in thechute and not rub on the sides thereof unless the velocity attainedcauses them to press outward by centrifugal force against the side 4.The chute is shown suspended by wooden framing; but it may be supportedaround a central column or in any other manner that will admit of therequired convolution and slope. At the different floors are providedhinged hatch-doors 9, that close the hatchways l0, and at the ends thesedoors toward the chute are made to fit therein to intercept and landmerchandise, or a curved extension 12 is provided to avoid shock whenpackages land on the hatch-door 9. These combined hatches and chutes arehinged to the side of the hatchways 10, as shown in Fig. II, one at eachfloor.

It will be understood that there are certain structural features thathave to be modified to suit the character of the merchandise to behandled, which may be boxes, bales, barrels, or smaller articles ofvarying weight and more or less retarded by friction.

Having thus explained the nature and objects of my invention and mannerof constructing the same, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

In abuilding provided with hatchways in the several floors thereof, ahelically-disposed chute passing through said hatchways, the latterbeing provided with closingdoors hinged to the sides thereofrespectively, said doors having extensions which fit within the adjacentchute, for intercepting, deflecting and landing packages at the severalfloors when the doors are closed, substantially as specified. Intestimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. CORMACK.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. ENQUIST, ELMER WIoKEs.

